iMac and external display or TV?

[vp911]

I'm looking to add either an external display to my 27" iMac or a LCD TV.

My problem is I don't plan on watching any TV on the 2nd display - it's purely for work (web, e-mail, server management, etc.) - I have a lot of open windows/apps simultaneously.

Should I buy a 27" Apple display to sit next to my iMac or put a LCD TV on the wall above/next to the iMac? Downsides to using a TV vs. a regular Apple display?

If I use a LCD TV, I have a 40" 1080P LCD in my family room I can use - and I would replace that with a new LED TV.

 

[CWallace]

I have a 40" LCD and with Snow Leopard, at least, I either had to select overscan (which meant the desktop extended past the edges of my television) or if I did not, then I'd have a black border around the desktop. This was from a Late 2009 iMac 27" to a Sharp TV.

I'm not sure if it's Lion or my new mid-2011 iMac, but I now have an "under scan correction" option so I can set the desktop exactly to the dimensions of my TV.

That being said, the image quality is poorer than my iMac, so I currently use a Dell 21" widescreen LCD but am planning to buy the 27" Thunderbolt Display (though I will on occasion use it with my 2011 MBP 13", as well).

 

[eagandale4114]

Pikek density on a TV is way lower. Wait for the apple thunderbolt display (http://www.apple.com/displays/) coming in 2-3 weeks.